Apparatus for breaking rocks, &amp;c.



No. 874,217. PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907. F. LOBNITZ. APPARATUS FOR BREAKINGBOOKS, 6:0.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1906.

s SHEETS-SEIIIEET 1.

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I No. 874,217. v PATENTBD DEC. 17, 1907.

F. LOBNITZ.

APPARATUS FOR BREAKING ROCKS, 8w.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1906.

9 SHBETS-SHEET 2 IVE/67166666: @Q? %7 f Qmzz PATENTED DEG.1'7, 1907. F.LOBNITZ. APPARATUS FOR BREAKING ROCKS, 8w.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1906.

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9 SHEETS-SHEET a.-

No. 374,217. PATENTED DEC. 17, 19071.

F. LOBNITZ.

APPARATUS FOR BREAKING ROCKS, 8m.

- APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1906.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 874,217. PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

F. LOBNITZ.

APPARATUS FOR BREAKING ROCKS, 6w.

APPLICATION IILED A2130, 1906.

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No, 874,217. P'ATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

, .P.- LOBNITZ;

APPARAT O-R BREAKING ROGKS,-&o.

A1?! TION FILED APR. 80, 1906. v

9 SHEETS-SHEET s.

PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

P. LOBNITZ. APPARATUS FOR BREAKING R0 GKS, 6w. APPLICATION FILED APR.30, 1906.

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APPARATUS FOR BREAKING R0 &0.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 190

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J A Z Z 7 Z7 wirlesse-s" I v p Q U A E? No. 874,217. I PATENTED DEC. 17,1907.

P. LOBNITZ. APPARATUS FOR BREAKING ROCKS, 8w.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1906.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

FRED LOBNITZ, OF RENFREW, SCOTLAND.

APPARATUS FOR BREAKING BOOKS, 860.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1907'.

Application filed April 30, 1906. Serial No. 314.488.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED LoBNITz, of Clarence House, Renfrew, Scotland,engineer and shipbuilder, have invented certain new and. usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Breaking Up or Cutting Rocks, Stones, orEarth under Water or on Land, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for breaking up or cutting rocks,boulders, stones, or hardened earth, or combinations of earth and stone,whether under water or on dry land.

The apparatus is specially adapted for use in conjunction with, or as anauxiliary to, dredging plant when forming or deepening rivers, canals,harbors, and other water ways, and also for breaking up ordisintegrating the ground when making excavations on dry land forrailways, foundations, and other formations and structures.

In apparatus of this kind it is usual to employ one or more rock cuttersor rams of special construction and which weigh from 5 to 20 tons, orso, each. Each cutter, if there are several, is raised, by means of awinch and wire rope arrangement, to a certain height and is then allowedto fall on to the rock, with the result, that, owing to its great weightand peculiar construction, it penetrates the rock, partly pulverizingand partly breaking it. brittle, it breaks in a similar manner to apiece of glass struck by a heavy hammer. The cutter is frequently raisedand allowed to fall so as to give a series of percussive blows to therock with the result that it is soon shattered and broken up to thedepth desired.

The whole apparatus usually comprises a rock cutter (or cutters), guidesfor the cut ter, winding gear for hoisting the cutter and then allowingit to fall, and sheer legs or other suitable structure for carrying thepulley (or pulleys) upon which the lifting rope (or ropes) runs.

For subaqueous work the rock cutting apparatus is preferably carried bya suitable floating structure such as a barge, or a dredger, or, say,two old barges joined together by logs of wood or steel girders boltedacross on top of their decks. The barge or other floating structure isprovided with a detail view of part of the apparatus.

If the rock is hard and maneuvering winch and chains (or wire ropes)whereby it can be readily moved about so as to enable the blows of thecutter to be delivered at the exact spot desired or within a few inchesof it.

On the drawings annexed l. have shown in Figures 1 to 3 a rock cuttingvessel having a single cutter at the bow. Fig. 1 is a side view, Fig. 2a plan and Fig. 3 a bow view of the vessel. Fig. 4 is a side view, Fig.5 a plan view and Fig. 6 an end view of a hoisting winch with lever gearfor operating the clutch and steam valve. Fig. 7 is a view of the cutteritself. It is broken away at the center. Fig. 8 is a section thereof.Figs. 9 and 10 show, respectively, in side elevation and section alocking pin or screw. Figs. 11 and 12, show, respectively, in side viewand section a modified form of the cutter end or top. Figs. 13 and 14show, respectively, in side view and section, a second modified form ofthe cutter end or top. Figs. 15 and 16 are similar views of athirdmodification. Fig. 17 is a plan view of a clip. Figs. 18 and 19 showsections of cutterpoints. Fig. 20is a plan view of a guide. Fig. 21 is across section thereof. Figs. 22 and 23 show buffer springs for theguide. Fig. 24. is an enlarged Fig. 25 is a view of part of the'levergear connections.

On the drawings the same reference letters wherever repeated indicatethe same parts.

Before entering upon a detailed description of my invention I may saythat Figs. 1, 2, and 3, will give a general idea of the nature of thiskind of apparatus. It will be seen that there is a vessel a which has astructure b erected upon it said structure being supported by stays b.At the top of the structure is a pulley 0 over which passes a steel wirerope d, the rope being connected to a cutter i on the one hand andpassing to a hoisting winch e on the other hand. The ship is made with awell f in which is a guide 9 having a guide hole therein. The cutter canbe raised up by the winch and thenallowed to fall so as to shatter orbreak up the subaqueous rock.

I will now proceed to fully and clearly describe my invention whichconsists of various improvements as hereafter set forth.

In order that the rock cutting apparatus may be worked as efficientlyand cheaplyas possible it is necessary that the blows given by the rockcutter should be delivered in quick succession. At present the rockoutter is raised up by the action of a steam winch provided with awinding drum which, when the cutter is to be raised, is clutched to thewinch shaft, and, when the cutter is to be lowered, is unclutched andallowed to run freely so as to pay out the rope attached to the cutteras the latter falls down and strikes the rock. The clutch used ispreferably a coil clutch which the winch man operates by means of a handlever.

In order to save time in the raising of the rock cutter after each blow,it is usual for the winch man to clutch the winch drum to its shaft assoon as possible after the cutter has struck the rock so as to avoid anyunnecessary slackening or paying out of the rope attached to the cutter.To actuate the clutch always at the proper times requires watchfulnesscombined with care and judg ment on the part of the winch man. In myprior patent specifications Nos. 707128 of 1902 and 789981 of 1905 Idescribed how the kink ing or slackening of the rope at each blow of thecutter could be utilized to automatically apply the clutch so that thecutter could be raised up after each blow without loss of time and I nowpropose to use the arrangement for automatically applying the clutchalong with an arrangement for automatically releasing the clutch andalso opening and closing the steam supply valve of the winch for thepurpose of enabling the cutter to be raised and dropped automatically.Such automatic arrangement would be specially useful in the case of avessel having a battery of cutters as one or more of the cutters couldbe switched on or put in operation as desired and then allowed tooperate automatically until switched off again. The mechanismconstituting this part of my invention is illustrated at Figs. 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 24 and 25. I use, as in my prior specification, No. 789981 of1905, a swinging lever which has a roller resting against the hoistingrope d and when the kinking or slackening takes place the lever moves,along with the ropes is, Z, bell cranks m, m m and rods n, n (Fig. 25)so as to allow the weighted lever 0 to fall and thereby through theconnection 29, bell crank 29 (Fig. 6) rod p and lever p apply the clutchp. The clutch being in gear the cutter can now be hoisted again byopening the steam valve g of the winch and this is performedautomatically shortly after the clutch has been applied by means of thearm 9 on the rod 10 which, when the rod moves in the direction of thearrow (see Fig. 6) so as to apply the clutch compresses the spring g andcauses it to actuate the valve rod The interposition of the spring in-.once winds up the hoisting rope and raises the cutter and when the topof the latter reaches a certain height it strikes against the 'long armr of a bell crank lever 1" (see Fig.

24) thereby pulling the rope r and actuating the bell crank r and rod 1so as to pull by means of the bell crank r (see Fig. 5) the rod gf andclose the steam valve g. The movement of the valve rod acts on thespring g and causes it to push back, after a slight interval, the rod 12and disengage the clutch with the result that the cutter drops for another blow. These movements automatically continue until it is desiredto stop the mechanism which can be done by cutting off the steam supplyor by disengaging the mechanism.

Should it be desired, at any time, to operate the winch by hand then theautomatic gear can be disconnected and the clutch and valve manipulatedby the hand levers s, 8

(Figs. 4 & 5). When the lever s is moved it operates the valve (1 andwhen the lever s is moved it operates the clutch and these operationsmust be done in proper sequence. A man usually operates both levers,catching one in each hand, with the result that he must be careful tooperate the levers at the proper times. To simplify matters I connectthe operating rods s (for manipulating the valve rod q and the rod 19together by a strong spring 8 so that when one is operated in eitherdirection it will, after an interval, and owing to the action of thespring, operate the other lever and in this manner the valve and clutchcan be operated in proper sequence by merely working one of the levers8, 8 Of course this gear would only be used when the automatic gear isdisconnected.

Under my present invention I also use a special form of guide for therock cutter. This guide consists of a platform or flat structure 25(Figs. 20 and 21) which is fitted in the well of the vessel and has acircular hole 29 in it for the cutter to pass through. This hole islined by a hard and renewable metal ring t which is larger than thediameter of the cutter and is slightly tapered internally as shown atFig. 21. At its upper end it has a flange or hoop t shrunk on orotherwise secured to it so as to prevent it falling through the hole inthe guide and also to allow of its working freely between the springs15*. The flange can slide on the metal plate i when the ring oscillateswith the movements of the cutter. The springs 15, of which there arepreferably siX arranged radially round the ring, are inserted into holesin the guide and can be driven, or

tightened up, against the ring by means of wedges t or by screws andnuts, such as shownat t (Fig. 22). The wedges or the screw allow of thesprings being adjusted as desired.

Whenever the cutter strikes the rock it oscillates violently and thisoscillation is cushioned by the springs t.

If there are a number of cutters, then of course, the guide would beprovided with a corresponding number of buffer or spring rings t I alsouse an improved construction of cutter. The cutter is made of steel andis tapered at each end, and at its upper end, it is split as at '11.(Fig. 7) for a certain distance and is also reduced in thickness at a01. The end of the hoisting rope d is inserted between the sides of thesplit portion (grooves being provided for its reception) and is thenheld fast by tightly bolting the sides together by bolts 41, as shownclearly at Figs. 7 and 8. The extreme end of the rope may be frayed outor thickened so as to prevent it readily working upwards. With thisarrangement the rope is securely clamped or fastened directly to thecutter. At the bottom of the split there may be a transverse hole athrough which the usual cutter suspending bolt can be passed if sodesired.

Figs. 11 to 16 show other methods of securing the hoisting rope d to thecutter. In Figs. 11 and 12 a thimble o is inserted in the split upperend of the cutter the split being made of a suitable width forits'reception. The thimble works pivotally on a bolt 12 which latterserves to hold the two parts of the s lit portion together. The rope dis passe round the thimble and is spliced. To prevent the momentum ofthe thimble giving a shock to the bolt when the cutter strikes the rockthe friction of the sides of the slit or slot will act beneficially,but, besides, I employ a cod iece '0 which fits underneath the rope ancan betightened against it by a wedge pin 0 The tightening of the wedgealso looks the parts together so that, when the cutter is hoisted, nomotion takes place between thebolt 12 the thimble, or the cod piece 12In Figs. 13 and 14 a somewhat similar arrangement to that at Figs. 7 and8 is shown that is to say the hoisting rope is not secured to a thimblebut is fastened or clamped directly to the cutter between the sides ofthe split portion. In this case I bore a central hole win the end of thecutter and widen it out at the bottom. The cutter is split and into thehole two tapered grippers w 10 are inserted between which the end of thero e d is gripped, as shown. A transverse ho e a is also made and theeX- treme end of the rope may be opened out and passed through this holeas shown and then knotted. When the screws w are tightened up thegrippers are caused to hold the rope with a tight frictional grip and,if desired,

in order to. increase this grip the grippers may be roughened orserrated. If the rope moves upwards, under the strain of hoisting, thegrippers, owing to their wedge shape, close more tightly on the rope.The upper end of each gripper is, preferably, curved outwards, as shownat w.

In the arrangement Figs. 15, 16, and 17 the rope d is made into a loopat its end which is secured in the split end of the rock cutter i. Thesplit portion is made for the reception of the rope d which latter islooped and spliced or else fastened by means of clips 00 When the bolts00 are tightened up the split parts of the cutter squeeze the rope andthereby hold it firmly in place, and of course, the bolts prevent itbeing withdrawn. It can be easily withdrawn, when desired, bywithdrawing the bolts. If desired the sides of the split may beroughened.

The point y of the cutter may be made as shown at Figs. 18 and 19 thatis to say it may have at its upper end an extension or rim y which bearsagainst the lower end of the cutter which latter is suitably made forits reception. This rim serves to protect'the lower end of the cutterfrom wear even although the point itself may be worn down to aconsiderable extent. The dotted line, 1%, (Fig. 18) indicates the extentto which the point could beworn without wearing the cutter. The points,when worn, can readily be renewed but the cutter, when worn, isexpensive to replace. If desired, instead of having a rim 'y I mayemploy the usual point and provide the lower end of the cutter itselfwith a hardened renewable ring 2, as shown at Figs. 7 and 8. This ringcan be shrunk on to the cutter and when worn can be removed and replacedby a new one.

The points are held in place by one or more pins .2 which can be made asshown at Figs. 9 and 10, that is, they may be split and have a roundtapered wedge 2 in the split. When the pins are screwed up the wedgesare caused to expand the pins and thereby lock them tightly in positionso that they will not drop out during the Working of the cutter. Thecutter itself is, as heretofore, made of special mild steel turnedsmooth in a lathe and tapered gradually from the top to the point 2 andthen quickly tapered off towards the point y which latter is made oftempered steel and is harder in the center than at the outside in orderthat it may continue sharp during use. Its contour is similar to thepoint of an armour piercing shell, or is chisel shaped.

The rock when cut can be easily dredged by an ordinary bucket dredger.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In rock cutting apparatus the combinationwith hoisting means for raising the cutter and allowing it to fall, ofmeans for con trolling the action of the hoisting means, saidcontrolling means being set in action by the cutter when it strikes therock (so as to again raise the cutter) and also when it is raised to acertain height (so as to let the cutter all again).

2. In rock cutting apparatus the combination with a hoisting winch forraising the cutter and allowing it to fall, of means (set in action bythe cutter when it strikes the rock) to automatically actuate a clutch,and, later, the winch-supply valve for actuating the winch so as toraise the cutter and means (set in action by the cutter when it reachesa certain height) for causing the hoisting winch to lower the cutter.

3. In rock cutting apparatus the combination with a hoisting winch forraising the cutter and allowing it to fall of means for automaticallyfirst actuating a clutch and later the winch-supply valve causing thewinch to raise the cutter just after it strikes the rock and automaticmeans for causing the winchto drop the cutter when it is raised to acertain height.

4. In rock cutting apparatus the combination with a winch operated byfluid pressure for raising the cutter and allowing it to fall of meansset in action by the cutter when it strikes the rock for automaticallyopening the fluid supply valve of the winch and means set in action bythe cutter when it reaches a certain height, for automatically closingthe fluid supply valve of the winch.

5. In rock cutting apparatus the combination with a steam winch forraising the cutter and allowing it to fall of means set in action by thecutter when it strikes the rock for automatically opening the steamsupply valve of the winch and means set in action by the cutter when itreaches a certain height for automatically closing the steam supplyvalve of the winch.

6. In rock cutting apparatus the combination with a winch operated bypressure fluid for raising the cutter and allowing it to fall, saidwinch being provided with a winding drum having a rope thereon connectedto the cutter and with a clutch [or putting the drum into and out ofgear, of means set in action by the cutter when it strikes the rock forautomatically engaging the clutch and opening the fluid supply valve ofthe winch and means set in action by the cutter when it reaches acertain height for automatically closing the fluid supply valve of thewinch and disengaging the clutch.

7. A rock cutting apparatus comprising,

in combination, a structure, an erection thereon, a rock cutter,hoisting means for raising the rock cutter and allowing it to fall, andmeans constructed to be set in motion by the cutter to actuate first aclutch and then means for controlling the hoisting means so that thecutter can beraised and dropped automatically.

8. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, a structure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter, hoisting means for raising the rockcutter and allowing it to fall, and means (set in action by the cutterwhen it strikes the rock to automatically actuate a clutch, and, later,means) for causing said hoisting means to raise the cutter and means(set in action by the cutter when it is raised to a certain height) forcausing said hoisting means to drop the cutter.

9. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, a structure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter, a power winch for raising the rockcutter and allowing it to fall, means operated by the rock cutter forautomatically shutting ofl the power from the winch and means operatedby the cutter, for automatically supplying power to the winch.

10. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in. combination, a structure,an erection thereon, a rock cutter, a ower winch for raising the rockcutter and a lowing it to fall, means operated by the rock cutterwhenever it reaches a certain height for automatically shutting off thepower from the winch and means operated by the kinking of the hoistingrope for automatically supplying power to the winch whenever the cutterstrikes the rock.

11. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, astructure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter, a power winch for raising the rockcutter and allowing it to fall and automatic means for shutting oii thepower to the winch whenever the cutter rises a certain height.

12. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination a structure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter, a power winch for raising the rockcutter and allowing it to fall, a clutch on the winch and automaticmeans for shutting off the power from the winch and also releasing theclutch whenever the cutter rises a certain height.

13. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, a structure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter, a power winch for raising the rockcutter and allowing it to fall, a power supply valve on the winch, aclutch on the winch, and automatic means for closing said supply valveand also releasing said clutch whenever the cutter rises a certainheight.

14. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, a structure, anerection there on, a rock cutter, a steam winch for raising the rockcutter and allowing it to fall, a steam valve on the winch, a clutch onthe winch and automatic means for closing the steam valve andsubsequently disengaging the clutch Whenever the cutter rises a certainheight.

15. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, a structure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter, a steam hoisting winch, meansconnecting the winch with the cutter, a steam valve on the Winch, alever on the erection and means connecting the lever with the said steamvalve. 4

16. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, astructure, anerection there on, a rock cutter, a steam hoisting winch, meansconnecting the winch with the cutter, a steam valve on the winch, andmeans connecting the said lever with the steam valve so that when thetop of the cutter strikes against the lever it will operate the steamvalve.

17. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, a structure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter, a steam hoisting winch, meansconnecting the winch with the cutter, a steam valve on the Winch, aclutch on the winch, a lever on the erection, means connecting saidlever with the steam valve, a swinging arm on the erection and meansconnecting said arm with the winch clutch.

18. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, a structure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter, a steam hoisting winch, meansconnecting the winch with the cutter, a steam valve on the winch a valverod, a s ring thereon, a clutch on the winch, a clutch lever, a rodconnected with the clutch lever, an arm on the rod and acting on theaforesaid spring, a bell crank, a swinging arm on the erection, meansconnecting saidbell crank with the swinging arm, a lever on the erectionand means connecting said lever with the said valverod.

19. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, a structure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter, a steam hoisting winch, meansconnecting the winch with the cutter, a steam valve on the winch, avalve rod, a spring thereon, a clutch on the winch,

a clutch lever, a rod connected with the clutch lever, an arm on the rodand acting on the aforesaid spring, a bell crank, a swinging arm on theerection, means connecting said bell crank with the swinging arm, alever on the erection, means connecting said lever with the said valverod, hand lever gear for operating the valve rod, hand lever gear foroperating the clutch rod, and elastic means connecting said gearstogether.

20. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, a structure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter with an opening at its upper end, ahoisting rope having its end fitted in the opening, meansfor holding therope in the opening, a Winch, a clutch and a supply valve operable insuccession'by the cutter when it strikes a rock and means for operatingthe winch.

21. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, a structure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter having an opening at its upper end, ahoisting rope having its end fitted in the opening, grips, means fortightening the grips upon the end of the rope, a winch, a clutch and asupply valve operable in succession by the cutter when it strikes a rockand means for operating the winch.

22. In a rock cutting apparatus, a rock cutter split at its upper end, ahoisting rope connected to the cutter with its ends extended through thesplit, and means engaging the rope for clamping the same in the split ofthe cutter.

23. A rock cutting apparatus having a tapered metal rock cutter, ahoisting rope, means for fastening the rope to the cutter, and arenewable shell-shaped point with an annular rim at its upper end on thecutter.

24. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, a structure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter made of steel and tapered, a hoistingrope fastened direct to the cutter, a renewable shell point on thecutter, a protecting ring (2) on the cutter and means for raising andlowering the cutter.

25. A rock cutter comprising, in combination, a solid metal body whichis tapered and split at its upper end, means for closing the split on tothe hoisting rope, a renewable shell point and a protecting ring.

26. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, a structure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter, a guide for the cutter, means forcushioning the cutter in the guide, means for raisingthe cutter andallowing it to fall, and means for operating said raising means.

27. A rock cutting apparatus comprising,

in combination, a structure, an erection thereon, a rock cutter, a guidewith hole therein, a ring movably fitted in the hole, springs acting onthe ring, means for adjusting the springs, means for operating thecutter and means for controlling said operating means.

28. A rock cutting apparatus comprising, in combination, a structure, anerection thereon, a rock cutter, a guide with a hole therein, a taperedring movably fitted in the hole, springs acting on the ring, wedges foradjusting the springs, means for operating the cutter, and means forcontrolling said operating means;

29. In a rock cutting apparatus, the combination with hoisting means forraising the cutter and allowing it to fall, of means for controlling theaction of the'hoisting means,

said controlling means being set in action by a portion passed throughsaid transverse the cutter When it strikes a rock to autooutlet, andmeans for holding the rope in said matically actuate a clutch andoperate a opening. valve (so as to again raise the cutter), and Intestimony whereof I affiX my signature 5 also wivhen it is raiseduto acertain height (so in presence of two Witnesses.

as to et the cutter fa again).

30. A rock cutting apparatus having a FRED LOBNITZ' rook cutter With anopening in its upper end Witnesses: and a transverse outlet therefrom, ahoisting JAMES R. WOOD, 10 rope having its end fitted in said openingand Tnos. MILLER.

